Another week, another new lens for Sony A7 users. This time it is the highly anticipated Zeiss Batis 135mm f/2.8 lens.

The lens covers the full frame image sensor of Sony A7 cameras, however it can also be used with Sony’s APS-C E mount cameras, such as the A6300 and A6500. On these cameras the smaller sensor means the lens offers about the equivalent field of view as 200mm lens – which as a f/2.8 lens, makes it a great option as a midrange telephoto lens for wildlife photography.

Optically the lens is constructed of an impressive 14 lenses in 11 groups, which, when combined with a metal construction, and dust and weather sealing, accumulates to the total lens weight of 614g. The Zeiss Batis 135mm f/2.8 also features full autofocus and optical stabilisation, and a built-in OLED panel displaying the current focus distance and depth of field. As a fully automatic lens there is no manual aperture ring and manual focus is controlled electronically.

As you would expect from a Zeiss lens, the Zeiss Batis 135mm f/2.8 lens wont come cheap. When it becomes available in May it will retail for £1,749.99. It may face some competition from the recently announced Sigma 135mm f/1.8 lens, which is available for Canon or Nikon DSLR cameras. The Sigma lens is going to retail for around £1399, and the Sigma MC-11 adapter, which will allow the Canon version of the lens to me fully compatible with the Sony E mount, is aorund £199. So the Sigma combination, with a larger maximum aperture will around £150 cheaper. However, the Zeiss lens offers optical stabilisation, which is lacking in the Sigma 135mm f/1.8.

It will be interesting to see just how the lenses compare head to head.

Zeiss Batis 135mm f/2.8 lens: Full Specification

About Richard Sibley

Photo Gear News Editor. Richard is a photographer, journalist and reviewer. He wrote for Amateur Photographer Magazine for 9 years in a number of roles, most recently as Deputy Editor. He estimates that he has used over 300 cameras in his lifetime, and started, like many, with a Zenit E and a roll of Ilford HP5.